The National Network for the Right of Access to Information is a multi-sectoral group formed on April 11, 2008 upon the initiative of the Lebanese Parliamentarians against Corruption (LebPAC), the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and Association pour la Defense des Droits et des Libertes (ADDL), in collaboration with the American Bar Association (ABA) Rule of Law Initiative in Lebanon.

Members of the Network include representatives from the government, civil society, media, public sector, and the private sector.of Law Initiative in Lebanon.

ATI Mission

The Network seeks to enhance transparency and accountability and to strengthen the rule of law and civic participation in Lebanon through access to information, and protection for individuals who report corruption, commonly referred to as whistleblower protection.

Lebanon lacks key transparency and anti-corruption legislation.

An access to information law will create a more open and democratic society by allowing individuals to seek and receive public documents that affect their daily lives, enabling them to make informed decisions and deepening trust between citizens and their government. Access to information also increases government efficiency, discourages arbitrary state action, reduces corruption, promotes investment, and enhances investigative journalism.

In turn, a whistleblower protection law will empower Lebanese citizens to speak out in the public interest without fear of retribution, unveil cases of corruption, and expose public mismanagement and other illegal practices.

Specifically, the Network undertakes to:

Draft access to information and whistleblower protection legislation;

Raise awareness on these two rights among citizens, the public and private sectors, members of parliament and candidates, and the media;

Build citizens’ capacity to claim their right for access to information and for protection when reporting corruption;

Encourage stakeholders to support the passage of the laws.

Network Structure

The Network is coordinated by a Steering Committee and conducts its core activities through two working groups:

The Steering Committee comprises the founding member organizations as well as the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform(OMSAR) and the Beirut Bar Association.

The Legal Working Group, a group of legal and policy experts tasked with drafting two laws, one concerning the right of access to information and the second concerning whistleblower protection, with input from international specialists drawing on internat

The Advocacy Working Group, composed of government ministries and NGOs, is responsible for raising awareness and building capacity to uphold these two rights through a series of outreach activities and the development of educational tools. The Advocacy Wo

The National Network for the Right of Access to Information, a multi-sectoral group comprising parliamentarians, ministries, private sector associations, professional syndicates and non-governmental organizations, was formed on April 11, 2008, upon the initiative of the Lebanese Parliamentarians against Corruption (LebPAC), the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and Association pour la Defense des Droits et des Libertes (ADDL), in collaboration with the American Bar Association (ABA) Rule of Law Initiative in Lebanon.

The Ministry of Economy and Trade is responsible for economic matters and national stockpiling needs. These include the planning and coordination of, and implementation in, the fields of trade and the economy that encompass the following overall objectives:

Within the context of reform and development, the Ministry of Finance strives to lead through sound formulation and management of fiscal policy and public debt in order to foster sustainable economic growth in alignment with national priorities, acting as a role model for transparency and accountability, in a manner that reflects good governance. In this light, the Ministry of Finance pursues process efficiency in the delivery of its services, using latest proven technologies and best managerial practices at lowest costs, in an effort to consolidate the trust and confidence of the public, and ensure cohesion between fiscal and social policies.

The Institute of Finance (IOF), known as the Basil Fuleihan Institute for Economy and Finance, is the training and communication agency of the Lebanese Ministry of Finance. It is a public autonomous agency operating under the tutelage of the Lebanese Minister of Finance. It delivers training services for the Lebanese Ministry of Finance and also provides training services and expertise for various ministries and agencies servicing the public sector in Lebanon and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The ultimate mission of the IOF is to support the government reform agenda by building the capacities of the civil servants and future leaders undertaking the reforms. Since its creation in 2006, the Institute played a confirmed role in the capacity-building and human resource upgrading effort undertaken by the Lebanese Ministry of Finance and was able to consolidate its position as a sustainable source of high quality, specialized training and communication services in public finance management in Lebanon and the MENA region. It also actively contributed to transforming the ministry into a service oriented knowledge-based institution and to improving capacity in financial management of Government agencies.
To fulfill its mission, the IOF focuses its services on:

Capacity-building and human resource upgrading for the Lebanese Ministry of Finance (MoF);

Improving capacity in financial management of Government agencies;

Building strong partnerships with regional and international organizations;

The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities is responsible for administering all internal political affairs of Lebanon. It is also responsible for looking into citizens’ inquiries and upholding their rights.
The Ministry is in charge the country’s security and citizens’ safety.
It supervises the work of governorates, Kazas, municipalities, federation of municipalities, independent municipal funds, Moukhtars, local elected or appointed councils and public areas, all the villages’ matters.
The MOIM oversees as well as the political parties, social organizations and manages parliamentary and municipality elections.
MOIM manages civil status affairs, refugees’ affairs, civil defense, traffic and vehicles management… and upholding the law under its jurisdiction.
The following directorates fall under the authority and jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities and assure all of the above: Internal Security Forces (ISF), General Security, Civil Defense, Traffic and Vehicles Management, the General Directorate for Civil Status, the General Directorate for Political Affairs and Refugees, the General Directorate for Administration and Local Councils, the Airport Security Apparatus, and the General Directorate for Drug Control.

The Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA), which was established in May 1999, is Transparency International\'s Lebanese chapter. It is the first Lebanese NGO that focuses on curbing corruption and promoting the principles of good governance. In existence for ten years, it has gained recognition on national, regional and international levels. LTA does not investigate or expose individual cases of corruption but advocates for reform by focusing on systemic improvement and by building coalitions with other anti-corruption stakeholders, including governments, the private sector and civil society organizations.

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya is a non-profit organization founded by individuals from all walks of life and from a mosaic of political, cultural, and religious backgrounds.
We are members of civil society concerned with the state of affairs in Lebanon and beyond, and we seek to effect positive change through informed activism and engagement.
We believe democracy begins with inclusive, educated, and engaged individual behavior which, when nurtured and multiplied, will lead to the improvement of civil society and the betterment of our national, regional, and global future.
We seek a progressive, forward-looking democratic society based on social justice, knowledge, and an advanced economy simultaneously in harmony with the environment. We thus aim to alter the political culture in Lebanon-and the wider Arab world-towards a more participatory governance system where people exercise their rights and responsibilities. That is, towards greater citizenship.
Nahwa al-Muwatiniya empowers and mobilizes citizens towards active participation in governance through the following:

The Lebanese Parliamentarians Against Corruption organization (LebPAC) is the Lebanese chapter of the Arab Region Parliamentarians against Corruption (ARPAC), itself the regional chapter of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GoPAC).
LebPAC include Lebanese members of parliament belonging to the main parliamentary groups, committed to fighting and preventing corruption, using the main functions of parlimentary work, i.e., legislation and oversight.
LebPAC seeks to reach its goals through the main following activities:

To advocate for Lebanon\'s ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). This was achieved.

To formulate a national action plan to prevent and fight corruption from a parliamentary perspective based on a comprehensive "gap analysis" study, which reveals the actions required to fulfill Lebanon\'s commitments under the UNCAC.

"Maharat Foundation" is a Non Governmental Organization comprising a team of young professional journalists who have experienced on-the-ground difficulties and obstacles with which free journalism is faced in Lebanon and the Arab world. They are united in a common aspiration to a freer journalism and a more democratic society. They consider that there is no way to enroot the idea of peace unless through democracy - which was violated in times of peace as in times of war.
MAHARAT constantly monitors the status of freedom of expression and opinion in Lebanon and publishes studies about media in order to promote the role of media institutions and empower them. MAHARAT is also concerned with the improvement of media laws and the implementation of training workshops for media personnel.
MAHARAT is a member of the International Freedom of Exchange network (IFEX).

Nahar Ashabab is an organization with a scope of activities mainly targeting the youth and the students to connect them together as individuals and as groups and to enhance common platforms, dynamic dialogue and synergies.
Launched officially on April 13, 2006, at the Press Syndicate, the organization bases itself on what the martyr Gebran Tueni had already started and worked for through the "Nahar Ashabab" Youth Supplement, as well as the other ideas and initiatives he conveyed to the Lebanese Youth.
Nahar Ashabab’s first project coming to life was the setting up of the Youth Shadow Cabinet on 22 August, 2006. The project is now running in its third year.

The Lebanese Union of Press Editors was established in 1942 and confirmed by law, promulgated on September 14, 1962. The Union is a moral entity which represents all Press Editors (journalists) and speaks on their behalf. The general assemply of the Union of Press Editors is composed of all the registered journalists who are in service. The Union cares about all its members and reacts to safeguard their rights. The President of the Lebanese Union of Press Editors is Mr. Melhem Karam, who has long held the confidence of editors, is also the deputy of the Arab Journalists Union and has a human value in the world of media.

ADDL is a Lebanese association founded in 1995 by a group of lawyers and jurists. It aims to broaden awareness of basic freedoms and human rights and to defend them, in addition to shedding light on violations of such freedoms and rights. To pursue its objective, ADDL is committed to using the available legal channels and, in particular, the means provided by the Lebanese Government. ADDL is active on many levels, especially in promoting awareness of freedom of associations, which is supported by the launch of the Arab Initiative for Freedom of Associations (Arab IFA). Within this framework, ADDL has also published two books on freedom of associations in Lebanon and the Arab world.

ALEF aims at a Lebanese society that respects and practices Human Rights throughout its social and political structure. It seeks to re-instate the fundamental value of every Human Being as a priority for policy-makers and policy agendas.
ALEF believes in the absolute value of Human Beings and the absolute obligation of communities, governments and individuals to uphold this value. ALEF’s mission is to trigger and contribute to a cumulative process of change in values and attitudes incompatible with the universal values of Human Rights. ALEF seeks to embrace a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to monitor, protect, and promote Human Rights, ALEF aims to establish these universal values as part of the popular scale of value, respected and practiced by all indiscriminately.

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon is an institution for public benefit. It has an independent legal personality and promotes the development of business enterprises.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon (CCIABML) has been established in 1887. Today, the CCIABML represents, in its membership, more than 10,000 Lebanese business firms most of which are SMEs.
With such a strong base, CCIABML is today one of the main reference organizations for Lebanon’s business establishments.
CCIABML serves Lebanon’s economy and private enterprises through a diversified range of services and activities, some of which are unique in the Arab world. They include Business Information, Training, Bar Codes, Carnet ATA, Carnet TIR and others.

The Syndicate of Journalists was established in the beginning of the 20th century. It represents the newspaper owners in Lebanon and includes 110 political newspapers and 1500 non-political newspapers. It accompanied the growth and development of journalism throughout the years.

For being rightful and dutiful, The Bar Association of Beirut is the association which encompasses the lawyers who are compulsorily registered in the Bar Association register. The lawyers were by law reserved the right of attorney and advocacy at the courts and the realization of the mission of justice through the expression of the legal point of view and the defense of rights in accordance of the provisions of the law regulating the law profession No 70/8 including its amendments, and in compliance with the provisions of the internal policies of the Bar Association and the rules and regulations and code of ethics of the profession.
The Bar Association was established in Beirut subsequent to Decision No 192 of the Administrative General Ruler issued on 6 February 1919, which stipulated the regulation of the law profession among its standing members and those wishing to enroll in this independent field, in addition to the establishment of an administrative committee for the Bar Association at the appellate court, composed of a president and four members.
On December 19, 1919, the first administrative committee for the Bar Association was established including a President appointed by the Administrative Ruler and four members elected by the Association. Mr Wadih Domani was appointed as first president of the Administrative Committee and hence Mr Domani was the first President of the Bar Association of Beirut.